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  <h1></h1>

  <p><span class="hanzi">刚</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāng</span>) and <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> (<span class="pinyin">gāngcái</span>) are similar, but they have somewhat different uses.</p>

  <h2 id="both-come-before-the-verb-but-have-different-emphasis">Both Come Before the Verb, But Have Different Emphasis</h2>

  <h3 id="刚-emphasizes-something-just-happened"><span class="hanzist">刚</span> emphasizes something "just" happened</h3>

  <p>"<span class="hanzi">刚</span>" is actually an adverb, and it is placed in front of the verb. It emphasizes that the action just happened a short time ago. It is similar to the English "<b>just</b>."</p>

  <p>The key here is that a short time ago is relative, and determined by the speaker. For this reason, <span class="hanzi">刚</span> can indicate that something "<b>just</b>" happened 1 second ago, 5 minutes ago, 2 hours ago, 3 weeks ago, or even a year ago. The absolute time is flexible, but from the speaker's perspective, it feels recent.</p>

  <h2>Contents</h2>

  <ol>
    <li>Structure<br/></li>

    <li>Examples<br/></li>

    <li>See also<br/></li>

    <li>Sources and further reading<br/></li>

    <ol>
      <li>Books<br/></li>
    </ol>
  </ol>

  <h4 id="structure">Structure</h4>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">刚</span> + Verb
    </div>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">他 刚 来。</span> This gives the impression that not only did he just get here, but he should still be here.</span><span class="pinyin"> Tā gāng lái.</span><br/><span>He just came.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 昨天 刚 看到 他 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān gāng kàndào tā.</span><br/><span> I just saw him yesterday.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 刚 说过 ， 不 想 再 说 一 遍 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zuótiān gāng kàn dào tā.</span><br/><span> I just said it, and I don't want to say it again.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我们 去年 刚 去 过 美国 。</span> This "just" is relative, clearly. The speaker feels that a year ago isn't too long ago.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒmen qùnián gāng qù guo Měiguó.</span><br/><span> We've just been to the United States last year.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h3 id="刚才-emphasizes-just-now"><span class="hanzist">刚才</span> emphasizes "just now"</h3>

  <p><span class="hanzi">刚才</span> is a <a href="time_noun" title="wikilink">time noun</a> (like <span class="hanzi">今天</span> and <span class="hanzi">现在</span>), and it expresses that the time that has passed is really short, in near-absolute terms. We're talking <b>no more than 1-30 minutes</b>, in most situations. If it is placed before the verb, it emphasizes what happened in the time that has just passed. It is similar to the English "<b>just now.</b>"</p>

  <h4 id="structure-1">Structure</h4>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">刚才</span> + Verb
    </div>
  </div>

  <h4 id="examples-1">Examples</h4>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">他 刚才 来 过。</span> <span class="vert">In this case, he's come and gone already. He's not here anymore.</span><span class="pinyin"> Tā gāngcái lái guo.</span><br/><span> He came just now.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 看到 他 了。</span>Sounds like he's not here anymore; I just saw him, but don't see him now.</span><span class="pinyin"> Wǒ gāngcái kàndào tā le.</span><br/><span> I just now saw him.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 看 过 了 ， 不 想 再 看 了 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ gāngcái kàn guo le, bù xiǎng zài kàn le.</span><br/><span> I saw it just now, and I don't want to see it again.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 现在 感觉 比 刚才 好 一点 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xiànzài gǎnjué bǐ gāngcái hǎo yīdiǎn.</span><br/><span> I feel a little better now than just before.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="刚才-can-be-used-as-an-attribute-while-刚-cannot"><span class="hanzist">刚才</span> can be used as an attribute while <span class="hanzist">刚</span> cannot</h2>

  <p><span class="hanzi">刚才</span> can also directly modify a noun to indicate it is that one from "<b>just now</b>" or "<b>just before</b>."</p>

  <h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">刚才</span> + <span class="hanzist">的</span> + Noun
    </div>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">刚才 的 事情 太 让 人 生气 了。</span> <span class="pinyin">Gāngcái de shìqing tài ràng rén shēngqì le.</span><br/><span> What just happened really made people angry.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">刚 的 事情 太 让 人 生气 了。</span> <span class="pinyin">Gāng de shìqing tài ràng rén shēngqì le.</span><br/><span> Just thing really makes people angry.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="刚-can-be-used-with-adjectives"><span class="hanzist">刚</span> Can Be Used with Adjectives</h2>

  <p><span class="hanzi">刚</span> is an adverb, and it can also spruce up an adjective. It has the same meaning as <span class="hanzi">刚刚</span>. (<span class="hanzi">刚才</span> cannot do this.)</p>

  <h3 id="structure-3">Structure</h3>

  <div>
    <div class="deux">
      <span style="color: rgb(255, 127, 80); font-family: NotoSansCJKsc; font-size: 30px;">刚</span> + Adj.
    </div>
  </div>

  <h3 id="examples-3">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">天 刚 晴 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Tiān gāng qíng.</span><br/><span> The sky just cleared up.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">这些 刚 好 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē gāng hǎo.</span><br/><span> These are just right.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">面包 刚 熟 ， 过 一会儿 再 吃 。</span> <span class="pinyin">Miànbāo gāng shóu, guò yīhuìr zài chī.</span><br/><span> The bread just got done cooking. Eat in a little bit.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="刚-and-刚才-with-了"><span class="hanzist">刚</span> and <span class="hanzist">刚才</span> with <span class="hanzist">了</span></h2>

  <p>You may have noticed that something interesting is going on with regards to <a href="%E4%BA%86" class="uri" title="wikilink">了</a> in the sentences with <span class="hanzi">刚</span> and <span class="hanzi">刚才</span>. Namely, <span class="hanzi">了</span> is not usually required in sentences with <span class="hanzi">刚</span>, but it is usually required in sentences with <span class="hanzi">刚才</span>. This is because <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> refers to a time in the recent past, and you're usually indicated that something happened just now (started and finished).</p>

  <p>Take these sentences for example:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span><span class="hanzi">我 昨天 买 了 。</span> I bought it yesterday.</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 买 了 。</span> I bought it just now.</span></li>

      <li><span><span class="hanzi">我 明天 买 。</span> I'll buy it tomorrow.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>So these are all simple time "<b>noun + verb</b>" sentences. Notice that when they refer to the past (including the one with <span class="hanzi">刚才</span>), the action is completed and you need <span class="hanzi">了</span>. You don't need <span class="hanzi">了</span> for things that haven't happened yet (<b>they're just plans, and nothing is completed</b>). And remember that <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> always refers to the past.</p>

  <p>OK, now what about <span class="hanzi">刚</span>? Why does it not need <span class="hanzi">了</span>?</p>

  <p>The key is that you don't need a <span class="hanzi">了</span> in a sentence with <span class="hanzi">刚</span> if the verb indicates a clear result. So, to use the <span class="hanzi">买</span> example from above:</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 买 。</span> The verb <span class="hanzi">买</span> is kind of like "try to buy"; there is no clear indication of result.</span><br/><span> I just buy it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 买到 。</span> Adding <span class="hanzi">到</span> to the verb gives a clear indication of result.</span><br/><span> I just bought it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 买 了 。</span> Adding <span class="hanzi">了</span> after the verb also gives a clear indication of result.</span><br/><span> I just bought it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 也 刚 知道 吗 ？</span> <span class="vert">The verb <span class="hanzi">知道</span> always includes the result of "knowing."</span><br/><span> You also just found out?</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">妈妈 刚 看 。</span> No clear indication of result.</span><br/><span> Mom just look.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">妈妈 刚 看到 。</span> Adding <span class="hanzi">到</span> to the verb gives a clear indication of result.</span><br/><span> Mom just saw it.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">妈妈 刚 看 了 。</span> Adding <span class="hanzi">了</span> to the verb gives a clear indication of result.</span><br/><span> Mom just looked at it.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="刚-and-刚才-with-没"><span class="hanzist">刚</span> and <span class="hanzist">刚才</span> with <span class="hanzist">没</span></h2>

  <p>OK, so there's also something going on with <a href="%E6%B2%A1" class="uri" title="wikilink">没</a> in sentences with <span class="hanzi">刚</span> and <span class="hanzi">刚才</span>. The deal here is that you can say something didn't happen just now (<span class="hanzi">刚才</span>), but you can't say that something just didn't happen (<span class="hanzi">刚</span>). [Saying that something "just didn't happen" only works in English if you interpret "just" to mean "simply."]</p>

  <p>The takeaway? Just don't use <span class="hanzi">刚</span> in sentences where you use <span class="hanzi">没</span> to negate the past.</p>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 没 去 。</span> Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><br/><span> I just didn't go.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 没 去 。</span> It's fine to use 刚才 with 没 in the past.</span><br/><span> I didn't go just now.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">她 刚 没 问 我 这个 问题 。</span> Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><br/><span> She just didn't ask me this question.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">她 刚才 没 问 我 这个 问题 。</span> It's fine to use 刚才 with 没 in the past.</span><br/><span> She didn't ask me this question just now.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 没 喝 你的 啤酒 。</span> Don't use 刚 with 没 in the past.</span><br/><span> I just didn't drink your beer.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 没 喝 你的 啤酒 。</span> It's fine to use 刚才 with 没 in the past.</span><br/><span> I didn't drink your beer just now.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 不 知道 。</span> OK, so it's not 没, but you still shouldn't use 刚 for something that didn't happen.</span><br/><span> I just didn't know.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 不 知道 。</span> It's fine to use 刚才 with exceptions where you use 不 in the past.</span><br/><span> Just now I didn't know.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <p>For that last pair of sentences, if you're not clear why it's OK to use <a href="%E4%B8%8D" class="uri" title="wikilink">不</a> with <span class="hanzi">知道</span> in the past, go ahead and check out our article on <a href="comparing_&quot;bu&quot;_and_&quot;mei&quot;" title="wikilink">the differences between 不 and 没</a>. It goes beyond the basics into some of the trickier scenarios.</p>

  <h2 id="right-or-wrong">Right or Wrong</h2>

  <h3 id="examples-4">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 回家。</span> You should use <span class="hanzi">了</span> with <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> here.</span><br/><span> I just now go home.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 回家。</span> The verb <span class="hanzi">回</span> includes a clear enough indication of result.</span><br/><span> I just got home.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚 没 想好 吃 什么，现在 我 想好 了。</span> <span class="hanzi">刚</span> doesn't work with <span class="hanzi">没</span> </span><br/><span> I just didn't make up my mind what to eat, now I've made up my mind.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 没 想好 吃 什么，现在 我 想好 了。</span> No need to use <span class="hanzi">了</span> with <span class="hanzi">没</span> </span><br/><span> Just now, I hadn't made up my mind what to eat, now I've made up my mind.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">他 刚才 没 听懂 我的 话 。</span> No need to use <span class="hanzi">了</span> with <span class="hanzi">没</span> </span><br/><span> He didn't understand what I said just now.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">他 刚 没 听懂我的话。</span> <span class="hanzi">刚</span> doesn't work with <span class="hanzi">没</span> </span><br/><span> He just didn't understand what I said.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 也 是 刚 听说 这 个 消息。</span> The verb <span class="hanzi">听说</span> includes a clear enough indication of result.</span><br/><span> I also just heard this news.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">我 刚才 听说 了 这 个 消息。</span> You should use <span class="hanzi">了</span> with <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> here.</span><br/><span> I heard this news just now.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">昨天 他 刚才 来 过。</span> <span class="hanzi">刚才</span> should be used for events a lot closer in time than <span class="hanzi">昨天</span> </span><br/><span> He just now came yesterday.</span></li>

      <li><span class="vert"><span class="hanzi">昨天 他 刚 来 过。</span> <span class="hanzi">刚</span> works with <span class="hanzi">昨天</span> </span><br/><span> He just came yesterday.</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="example-dialog">Example dialog</h2>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li>A: <span><span class="hanzi">你 刚才 去 哪儿 了？</span> Where did you go just now?</span></li>

      <li>B: <span><span class="hanzi">我 刚 上 完 厕所。</span> I just got done in the bathroom.</span></li>

      <li>A: <span><span class="hanzi">那 你 不 知道 刚才 的 事情 吧？</span> Then you don't know what happened just now?</span></li>

      <li>B: <span><span class="hanzi">是 不 是 有人 吵架 了？</span> Did some people have an argument?</span></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="see-also">See Also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li><a href="&quot;Just_now&quot;_with_&quot;gangcai&quot;" title="wikilink">"Just now" with "gangcai"</a></li>

    <li><a href="&quot;Just&quot;_with_&quot;gang&quot;" title="wikilink">"Just" with "gang"</a></li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="books">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语八百词（增订本）</span> (<span class="hanzi">刚</span> p.216)</li>

    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语虚词例释</span>(<span class="hanzi">刚</span> p.190)</li>

    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语八百词（增订本）</span> (<span class="hanzi">刚才</span> p.217)</li>

    <li><span class="hanzi">对外汉语教学语法释疑201例</span> (p.28)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 40- 2)</li>

    <li><span class="hanzi">卓越汉语－公司实战篇</span> (p. 239)</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 id="dictionaries">Dictionaries</h3>

  <ul>
    <li><span class="hanzi">现代汉语词典（第5版）</span> (p.446)</li>
  </ul>
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